Research: Hope Elementary School


Author:Jaime Botelho
District: Scituate
School: Elementary
hope_elementaty.JPG
"The mission of the Hope Elementary School community is to provide all students with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills by creating a safe and nurturing environment to become responsible, successful and contributing citizens in a continually changing world."


[1]

A. Information Works

When you researched the community and district, you were provided tables to help with the task of making sense of the various graphs available on Information Works site. For your school report, you should make sense of the data one your own. Remember that you can email your instructor if you have any difficulties.

To research your school, you should consider the questions about schools that we brainstormed in class and decide on some questions that YOU think should be answered in your description of your school You should research at least four of the indicators on the school report page for your school to gather information that you feel will serve as evidence for your description.

Questions that you would like to find answers for:

~What is the environment like inside the school?
  • classroom/academic/learning
  • social
  • safety
~Location?
~Student:faculty?
~Demographics?

  • gender
  • race
  • SES (poverty)
~Funding?
~Extra Curricular Activities- Music, Arts, Sports
~Special Programs (voacational, arts, etc.)
~Facilities (good/bad, Age Access, Conditions: # of janitors on staff, cleanliness)


1. Info Works School Report: Assessments

Data: [2]

Grade 3 Assesments



Math
Reading
Proficient with distinction
3
10
Proficient
48
65
Partially Proficient
25
18
Substantially Below
Proficient

25
8

Grade 4 Assessment

Math
Reading
Proficient with distinction
12
22
Proficient
54
49
Partially Proficient
20
14
Substantially below proficient
14
14

Grade 5 Assessment

Math
Reading
Writing
Proficient with distinction
21
19
21
Proficient
51
68
49
Partially Proficient
15
11
28
Substantially Below Proficient
13
2
2

Performance Progress for all Test Grades at Hope

Math
Reading
Writing
05-06
59
74
58
06-07
64
76
64
07-08
64
77
70

Performance Progress for all Test Grades in Rhode Island Elementary

Math
Reading
Writing
05-06
52
60
55
06-07
56
65
51
07-08
57
66
54
Summary statement: The highest percentages recorded for all the grade levels mainly fall in the proficient category. These graphs show the students at Hope Elementary to have average performance levels on the state exams. Proficient is said to be about average or slightly higher than the set average.


2. Info Works school report: Accountability

Data:
[3]
Index Scores

Math
English Language Arts
2007 Hope's Percentages
89.6%
91.0%
2007 RI's Percentages
68.1%
80.1%

Participation Rates and Targets

Math
English and Language Arts
2007 Hope's participation
99.3%
99.3%
2007 RI's Participation
95%
95%

Attendance Rate and Target


Attendance Rate
2007 Hope
96.4%
2007 RI
90%
Summary statement: Overall this is a high performing school. It meets all of the standards set by the state and well beyond them. The students seem vigorous to learn based on their performance level.


3. Race and Ethnicity


[4]
Data:

African American
Asian
Hispanic
White
Native American
Percentage of Students at Hope
0
1
0
99
0
There are also no students receiving bilingual services,


Summary statement: The race and ethnicity of the students at Hope Elementary is mostly white with only 1% being Asian. This information can be based on the race and ethnicity found in Scituate as a whole. The majority of the people residing in Scituate are white and just a few are Asian or African American,

4. Connectedness

Data:[5]
  • The teachers at Hope Elementary seem to work well with one another and with their students. The majority of the teacher at this school seem to agree with this statement. 80% of students seem to think that the teachers take a personal interest in them.
  • Most of the students seem to get along with each for the most part. There are 25% of the students at Hope that said that they have trouble getting along with other students.
  • About 75% of students said that they feel like they have a sense of belonging in school.
  • About 95% of parents feel that the school views parents as important partners.


Summary statement: Overall at Hope Elementary school the students and parents feel involved and the teachers get along well with one another. The majority of the student population get along well with the other students there is a small portion that does not,




B. SALT Reports

In addition to survey data reported in Information Works, the SALT Surveys and the SALT visit report provides an "on the ground" description of what a group of visiting evaluators found while visiting the school for several days. After learning more about the SALT cycle from the link above, review the most recent report for your school and summarize what you find:

Data of last SALT visit: 1999-2000

Notes from Teacher Surveys: (2007-2008)
  • Teachers gave a 4.3 out of 5.0 on positive work climate (most of the time) [6]
  • About 3/4 of the teachers that teach at Hope have a masters degree and the rest have a bachelors degree
  • Most of the teachers have experience mostly in just elementary school[7]
  • Teachers contact parents several times a year at Hope to keep them up to date with their child's progress in school, unless there is a certain circumstance.[8]
  • Teachers seem to be satisfied with the instructional resources that are available to them.[9]
  • All of the teachers at Hope feel safe in their environment and do not feel threatened by their coworkers or their students.[10]
Notes from Student Surveys: (kids surveyed were only in fourth and fifth grades) (2007-2008)
  • 54%male students and 46% female students[11]
  • 14% students participate in free lunch; 9% in reduced price lunch; 76% in neither[12]
  • Students most of the time receive rewards or recognitions for achievement and good behavior
  • Students perceive there to be a positive school climate and that teachers provide them with support[13]
  • Overall the students at Hope Elementary feel safe in their environment.[14]

Notes from complete SALT visit Report:
  • Students
    • interact happily and cooperative with each other
    • greet visitors with respect and kindness
    • literate and preform at standard reading levels for their grade
  • Teachers strive to meet the needs of their students; in math they mainly focus on problem solving
  • Hope
    • opened in 1929
    • renovations in 1972 and 1990
    • 292 students
    • 1 administrators, 24 full and part time faculty, 10 aides and 4 custodians
    • safe and clean environment
    • proud of their students and accomplishments ( hang students work all along the halls)[15]

  1. ^ Scituate Schools, “Hope Elementary "Where Children Come First",” http://www.scituateri3.net/hope/.
  2. ^ Rhode Island Information Works, “Hope Elementary. Learning and Achievment: Assessments,” 2008, http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2008/queries/FindSch.asp?ID=30102.
  3. ^ Rhode Island Information Works, “Hope Elementary School. Learning and Achievement: Accountability,” 2008, http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2008/queries/FindSch.asp?ID=30102.
  4. ^ Rhode Island Information Works, “Hope Elementary. Learning and Achievement: Using Information,” 2008, http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2008/queries/FindSch.asp?ID=30102.
  5. ^ Rhode Island Information Works, “Hope Elementary. Learning and Achievement: Connectedness,” 2008, http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2008/queries/FindSch.asp?ID=30102.
  6. ^
      1. SALT Survery, Staff Report, “School Work Climate,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.

  7. ^ SALT Survey, Staff Report, “Teacher's Experience Levels,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.
  8. ^
      1. SALT Survey, Staff Report, “Parent Contact and Involvement,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.

  9. ^ SALT Survey, Staff Report, “Satisfaction Rating,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.
  10. ^ SALT Survey, Staff Report, “Ratings of School Safety,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PD.
  11. ^ SALT Survey, Student Report, “Student Demographics,” http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.

  12. ^ SALT Survey, Student Report, “Student Demographics,” http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.

  13. ^ SALT Survey, Student Report, “Perceived School Climate,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StfRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.

  14. ^ SALT Survey, Student Report, “School Safety,” 2008, http://schnet.ncpe.uri.edu/QUERIES/StuRep.asp?TOC=81117&FOLDER=08&SC=25317&NW=.PDF.

  15. ^ RI Board of Reagents for Elementary and Secondary Education, “SALT Visit Report,” http://www.eride.ri.gov/salt/default.asp.